The Spartans hit 8-of-9 in the final minute as they fended off several late rallies from the War Eagles in taking a 66-60 win at the Chestatee gym.
With West Hall clinging to a 56-52 lead, Rodney Gibson was the catalyst down the stretch hitting two free throws and then stealing an inbounds pass and finishing it off with a slam dunk and another free throw to push the Spartans lead to 61-52 points in a less than 15 seconds. Chestatee never got closer until the final score.
"Rodney was in foul trouble and played outstanding for the small amount of time he was in there," West Hall coach Warren Sellers said. "That steal was a huge play and kind of got us going at the end. We didn't shoot free throws very well but we made them at the right time. Chestatee fought hard and played well. We knew they would and we're just glad to get out of here with a win."
The first half was nip-and-tuck as neither team led by more than four points. West Hall jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead behind Kavon Williams, who scored the first seven points for the Spartans.
Chestatee took its first lead at 15-14 on a 3-pointer by Lamar Brooks. The War Eagles' biggest lead came at 17-14 on a basket by Jackson Chandler as part of a 7-0 run. West Hall closed out the first half with a 10-5 run for a 34-31 lead.
West Hall (12-1) extended its lead to 45-40 midway through the third quarter but Chestatee (4-9) pull within 49-47 heading into the fourth quarter and then took its first lead since the second quarter at 52-51 with 4:14 left in the game. West Hall retook the lead on its next possession on a 3-pointer by Shunquez Stephens and the Spartans never trailed again.
Stephens led West Hall with 20 points and eight rebounds and Williams had 18. Gibson finished with 10 points and Rashad Thomas, starting in place of injured Terrell Penland, added four big points in the fourth quarter and four assists.
Branden Jovaag led Chestatee with 23 points, 18 in the second half, and Chandler finished with 17 points and six rebounds before fouling out. Brandon Smith had nine and Brooks finished with six points on just one field goal.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/1/216585